Wabi Sabi Dahlia © 2010 Bo Mackison
This photograph is the last in the series of dahlias I’m posting on Seeded Earth (though there are many, many more in my treasure piles). I showed you ‘Esther’ as a new bud with the light from the setting sun giving her a warm glow. I showed you ‘Esther’ with her petals just beginning to fully unfurl. I gave you a peek of ‘Esther’ from a vantage not often seen – the undersides of the dahlia, softly lit (and one of my favorites). I posted a photograph of ‘Esther’ close up, so close you could almost see her heart. Today we say good bye to ‘Esther’ the dahlia, as she is on the wabi-sabi part of her journey.
What is wabi-sabi? As defined by architect Tadao Ando:
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all.
Seems fitting that this is the photo for today. Today is one of those wabi-sabi sorts of days.
About Bo Mackison
Perfectly wabi-sabi!!!
A wonderful series, Bo, and a great way to end it.
I was looking at our daylilies yesterday thinking this is a good time for a wabi-sabi series.
Indeed, Wabi Sabi Dahlia. Lovely!
That one is going out in a colorful blaze of glory! Very nice shot!
A fitting conclusion. However, I’d name it Mohawk Dahlia. 🙂
I find it hard to capture the “wabi-sabi part of a flower’s journey” — mine always look like just a dead flower. But your’s is great. Good, good job.